Kansas lawmakers are holding a public hearing on a bill aimed at increasing penalties for instances of ‘swatting’ or making false emergency calls to garner a large response.

Representative John Carmichael and Representative John Whitmer of Wichita, and Representative Patty Markley of the Kansas City area are sponsoring the bill.

“The key is to hold people accountable,” said Rep. Whitmer. “We pass a law, we put some teeth in it and maybe next time they think before they make that call.”

The current statute for false emergency calls carries at most probation and a year in jail Rep. Carmichael confirmed.

“The statutes is in place now is not as good a statute as it could be,” Rep. Carmichael said. “The purpose of this bill is to clearly define the crime that occurs when people engage in swatting or spoofing.”

House Bill 2581 is set for a public hearing on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in Topeka.

Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett says that not only did his office have a hand in writing H.B. 2581, he also says it would help future instances of ‘swatting’ calls.

“This bill as proposed has graduating penalties; A certain level of crime for making the call, a certain level of crime if someone is injured, a certain level of crime if someone is seriously injured and a highest penalty if someone is killed as a result…as opposed to the current law that has a single penalty,” Bennett said.

The new bill could carry at its highest, a 40-year jail term for instances of ‘swatting’ where someone is killed.

Bennett was quick to say that the current statutes will apply to the man accused of a deadly ‘swatting’ incident in Wichita in December of 2017, regardless of if the bill passes or fails.

“You can’t change the law and have it retroactively apply to somebody,” Bennett said.

H.B. 2581 has bipartisan support and sponsor of the bill believe that it will pass into law.

Andrew Finch was killed by Wichita Police responding to reports of a major crime at the Finch household; the reports of the crime were false, allegedly made up by Tyler Barris, who was hundreds of miles away in a different state.

The family of the victim of a fatal swatting call in Wichita from December of 2017 is expected to be in attendance at the public hearing on Tuesday and testify.

*Disclaimer: Rep. Carmichael operates a law firm in Wichita that is working with the Finch family as the legal case makes its way through the system.

Shaquille Morris had 23 points and 13 rebounds, including a tie-breaking putback in the final two minutes, to help No. 19 Wichita State defeat Temple 93-86 on Thursday night. Darral Willis had 24 points for the Shockers (20-5, 10-3 American Athletic Conference), who trailed by 14 at halftime.

Shaquille Morris had 23 points and 13 rebounds, including a tie-breaking putback in the final two minutes, to help No. 19 Wichita State defeat Temple 93-86 on Thursday night. Darral Willis had 24 points for the Shockers (20-5, 10-3 American Athletic Conference), who trailed by 14 at halftime.

Wichita State was able to snap a four game losing streak as they took down Temple 88-81 at Koch Arena on Wednesday night. Senior Rangie Bessard had a career high 38 points and set the school record for field goal percentage in a single game with a scorching 70 percent from the field.

Wichita State was able to snap a four game losing streak as they took down Temple 88-81 at Koch Arena on Wednesday night. Senior Rangie Bessard had a career high 38 points and set the school record for field goal percentage in a single game with a scorching 70 percent from the field.

Daley Driscoll calls serving his country a dream and it's now one step closer to becoming reality. "Marines are the best," he said. "They're physically the best, mentally the best. It's the hardest to be the marine."